A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Tehran vs. Bagan for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Tehran or Bagan?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Tehran and Bagan. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Tehran or Bagan?

Tehran

The capital of Iran, Tehran is a cosmopolitan city with great museums, art galleries, parks, restaurants, and more. It is located in the northernmost part of Central Iran at the foot of the towering Alborz mountain range. Some of the most popular attractions include the Treasury of the National Jewels, Golestan Palace, and the Tajrish Bazaar.

Bagan

Located in central Myanmar (formerly Burma), Bagan is an ancient city best known as the home to the largest and densest concentration of Buddhist temples, pagodas, stupas, and ruins in the world with many dating from the 11th and 12th centuries.

Which place is cheaper, Bagan or Tehran?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Tehran is $78, while the average daily cost in Bagan is $30. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Tehran and Bagan in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Tehran $62
    Bagan $7.36
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Tehran $124
    Bagan $15
Compare Hotels in Tehran and Bagan

Looking for a hotel in Tehran or Bagan? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Tehran


Hotels in Bagan


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Tehran $0.38
    Bagan $3.57

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bagan

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bagan:

  • From Bagan City To Mandalay Private Transfer: $150

Is it cheaper to fly into Tehran or Bagan?

Prices for flights to both Bagan and Tehran change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Tehran $14
    Bagan $5.95

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bagan

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bagan.

  • Romantic Sunset Dinner At Bagan Viewing Tower: $91

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Tehran $4.59
    Bagan $57

Tours and Activities in Bagan

Here are a few actual costs in Bagan for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Acient Capitals of Myanmar Tour: $149
  • Amazing Bagan, full day tour by car and guide: $90
  • BAGAN TEMPLES FULL DAY GUIDED BY ELECTRIC BIKE ( Private Tour ): $64
  • Bagan Classics Private Temples Tour: $159
  • Bagan Cycling Tour ( Villages & Temples Cycling Explorer) : $129
  • Bagan Horse Cart Ride Tour with Puppet Show: $160
  • Bagan Instagram Photo Tour: $179
  • Bagan and Mount Popa Private Tour (2 Days): $90
  • Best Bagan One Day Tour With Tour Guide: $48
  • Day Cruise Bagan to Mandalay: $31
  • Excellent Private Guided Tour Around Bagan With Lunch: $88
  • Full Day tour In Bagan UNESCO World Heritage: $50

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Tehran -
    Bagan -


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tehran and Bagan, we can see that Tehran is more expensive. And not only is Bagan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Tehran is in Middle East and Bagan is in Asia, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Bagan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bagan and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Tehran would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tehran than you might in Bagan.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tehran Expensive? and Is Bagan Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Tehran or Bagan?

Tehran has a larger population, and is about 23840 times larger than the population of Bagan. When comparing the sizes of Tehran and Bagan, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.